Forest Vegetation Response to Changes in Air Pollution and Climate (McDonnell presentation to Fall 2024 NADP)

This presentation is an overview of two projects led by E&S Environmental Chemistry, Inc. under contract with the EPA and the National Park Service, on forest vegetation responses to changes in air pollution and climate.  One project uses new methods of Hierarchical Bayesian Modeling, to extend our understanding of tree responses to atmospheric deposition of N and S, as well as responses to climate change and other factors.  The other project project uses the model PROPS to estimate understory vegetation responses to various global change factors for 176 National Parks.  Both of these projects are in progress thus results and conclusions are preliminary.

Impact/Purpose

Air pollution and climate change continue to impact forest communities in the U.S.  This is a presentation by Todd McDonnell at E&S Environmental Chemistry, Inc., on two projects conducted for the EPA and the National Park Service to assess the impacts from these global change factors to forested communities.  One project uses Hierarchical Bayesian Modeling to advance our understanding of how individual tree species are responding to atmospheric deposition of N and S, climate change, and other factors.  The other project uses the model PROPS to examine how understory communities in forest ecosystems of National Parks may be affected by global change now and in the future.  The work is ongoing and the results and conclusions are preliminary.  This work is relevant to air quality and land managers at the local, state, and federal levels, and will help them understand the risks to natural ecosystems from these global change stressors. 

Citation

McDonnell, T., C. Clark, AND M. Bell. Forest Vegetation Response to Changes in Air Pollution and Climate (McDonnell presentation to Fall 2024 NADP). Fall Science Symposium for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), Duluth, MN, November 04 - 08, 2024.